Lucion Anton Pushparaj,Tamil: லூசியன் ஆண்டன் புஷ்பராஜ்;(born September 10, 1982) also spelled Lucian Pushparaj, nicknamed Black Lion of Asia, is a Sri Lankan male IFBB professional bodybuilder. He has taken part in several notable international competitions.[2][3] On 16 December 2018, he became the first Sri Lankan to win the WBPF World Championship title, and was crowned WBPF Mr. Universe.[4][5][6]
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| Nickname | Black Lion of Asia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 10, 1982 Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100–110 kg (220–243 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Successor | Chitharesh Natesan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Active | 2012–active | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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He is also the first Sri Lankan Bodybuilder to participate in the IFBB Pro Arnold Classic Amateur, where he came in 4th place.[7]
Early life
Pushparaj was born on September 10, 1982, in Ja-Ela. He received his primary education from St. Xavier Maha Vidyalaya, and his secondary education from Basilica College, Ragama. In school, Pushparaj was an active athlete, taking part in athletics, volleyball, cricket, winning at the all-island level. [8]
Subsequently, he became a fitness instructor at various gyms and tried his hand at Pro bodybuilding. Despite the difficulties and discrimination he faced, he managed to fund himself, train and compete. [8]
Physical statistics
- Height: - 5'10"
- Contest weight: - 100 kg
- Off-season weight: - 110 kg
- Chest: - 51" (contest shape)
- Arms: - 19.5" (contest shape)
Career
2012-2013
Lucion is a professional bodybuilder who competed at both national and international levels since receiving his IFBB Pro status in 2012. He won his first major international competition in 2013, which was an IFBB Pro Championship in Oman.[8]
2014
Pushparaj won a gold medal in the 2014 Mr. Sri Lanka Contest. Later in 2014, Pushparaj won a silver medal in the AFBF 48th Asian Championship (IFBB) (100 kg Category).[9] In 2014, he became the first Sri Lankan to take part in the US-based competition, Mr & Mrs Atlas and Fitness Expo Contest, and came in fourth place.[10]
2016-2018
In 2016 he came first (gold) in the Open Weightlifting Championship in Oman (Under 100 kg),[11] and then came third (bronze) at the Wawan Classic Expo International Bodybuilding Championship 2016, held in Kuwait.[12]
In 2017, he won a gold medal in the 51st Asian Bodybuilding and Physiques Sports Festival in South Korea, and was titled Mr Asia.[13] Following his 2017 win in Thailand, Pushparaj was gifted a house and a sum of Rs. 1 million, by the Housing and Constructing Minister at the time, Sajith Premadasa.
In 2018, he then went on to secure a silver medal at the IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship,[14] held on 19 May 2018.[15][16]
Pushparaj emerged as the World Champion at the 10th World Bodybuilding Championship (over 100 kg category) held in Bangkok, Thailand on 16 December 2018, where he was crowned Mr Universe.[17][5] In March 2019, he was awarded the Popular Sports Personality of the Year as a part of the Newsfirst Platinum Awards.[18]
2020-Present
In May 2020, Pushparaj participated in the Super Heavyweight division at the Arnold Amateur competition and placed 4th overall.[19][20]
Issues with Local IFBB Elite Pro & SLBF Corruption
Pushparaj faced several issues with the local Sri Lankan Bodybuilding Federation (SLBF). Arguably, this was due to a conflict with the SLBF over his criticism of the body's support of the IFBB Elite Pro.
Pushparaj accused the IFBB Elite Pro of being a corrupt body, especially in Sri Lanka.[21][22] As a result, the SLBF pulled their sponsorship funding from his events, causing Pushparaj to fund his flight tickets and other associated costs, despite his victories. There was no official welcome when he arrived in Sri Lanka after winning the WBPF in 2017.
Pushpraj claims that the SLBF attempted to have him banned, by contacting the Global Bodybuilding Organization, which organized the 2017 Mr Atlas competition in Los Angeles, and that is why his VISA was initially rejected.
SLBF then accused Pushparaj of using banned substances. He denied the allegations and accused the federation of attempting to tarnish his image and prevent him from taking part in international events representing Sri Lanka. But despite these challenges, Pushparaj continues to represent Sri Lanka internationally, by super-ceding the SLBF and being represented by the globally ranked WBPF.
Contest history
- 2012 - Earned IFBB pro card
- 2013 - 1st (Gold) - IFBB Pro Championship in Oman [8][23]
- 2014 - 1st (Gold) - Mr. Sri Lanka Contest
- 2014 - 2nd (Silver) - AFBF 48th Asian Championship (IFBB) (100 KG Category) [24]
- 2014 - 4th Place - Mr & Mrs Atlas and Fitness Expo Contest [25]
- 2014 - 1st (Gold) - Open Weightlifting Championship in Oman (Under 100 kg)[11]
- 2016 - 3rd (Bronze) - Wawan Classic Expo International Bodybuilding Championship 2016, held in Kuwait.[12]
- 2017 - 1st (Gold) Mr Asia Overall Champion - 51st Asian Bodybuilding and Physiques Sports Festival in South Korea
- 2018 - 2nd (Silver) - IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship
- 2018 - 1st (World champion- Mr Universe) - 10th WBPF World Championship (100 kg+ category), in Bangkok, Thailand
- 2020 - 4th Place - IFBB Pro Arnold Classic Amateur - Super Heavyweight Division
Awards
- 2019 - Popular Sports Personality of the Year - Newsfirst Platinum Awards
- 2020 - 10th WBPF World Championship